Nov 30, 2010

Though I detest fruit of all kinds, I love learning about strange ones. This is the Brazilian Grape Tree. The fruit, which is actually called Jabuticaba, grows right on the bark!
According to Kuriositas, the delicious, grape-like fruit is used in jams and summer drinks, but it also comes with some great benefits: it supposedly curbs inflammation, and contains anti-cancer compounds. So, why doesn't your neighborhood grocery store carry the fruit? One of the reasons may be that it doesn't keep very well. Within just 3 days of plucking, the jabuticaba begins to ferment, which is great for winemaking, but not for international transport.

Nov 28, 2010

Here's a great shot of Tiger Woods hitting a ball directly into photographer Mark Pain's camera at the Ryder Cup. Pain took this shot right before impact.

The photographer from The Mail didn't flinch, however, and captured this extraordinary picture just before the ball hit his camera, bounced onto his chest and came to rest at his feet.

"Woods was furious about his blunder, but neither he nor caddie Steve Williams objected to Pain's position. The Americans accepted that the ball had hit the intrepid photographer only because Tiger's effort, from rain-soaked rough, had been so badly struck."

But let's get to the real story...who is that cigar-smoking, mustachioed gentleman on the right? Here's a closeup along with a little Photoshop fun:

On the Isle of Skye's (Scotland) Trotternish Peninsula, basalt pinnacles loom over the Sound of Raasay. Rising from the debris of an ancient landslide, they bear witness to the geologic upheavals that shaped these lands. Photograph by Jim Richardson. From National Geographic, March 2010.

Nov 24, 2010

Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii. This beautiful insect evolved through two of its nymph-stages on the Barberton Daisy at left, surviving because of its bright color which blended so well with the flower. Towards the end of its growth into an adult, it became a little more adventurous (but not much more) as pictured here. Once it had shed the layer in this picture, it became a fully-fledged adult, and departed after about two weeks. Total stay in this tiny ecosystem was approximately six weeks. Photo by Fred Turck

Nov 22, 2010

Think having a wizard for a friend will make all your troubles go away? Think again - possessing the power of magic doesn’t always mean one possesses competence! Case in point: Orko, from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. In fact, a running gag in the series is Orko's poor magical skills. Nearly every time Orko attempts to use magic, it backfires. It’s never made clear why Orko is so inept, but several explanations are given. From Orko supposedly losing an amulet that allowed him to properly use his magic, to it being suggested in an episode that the natural laws of Trolla (Orko's home world) are opposite of Eternia.

Formula Rossa, the new roller coaster in Abu Dhabi travels 1.2 miles in only a minute and a half, reaching speeds of up to 150mph! But what else would you expect from a theme park called Ferrari World? Harnessing the same technology that powers fighter planes off aircraft carriers, the ride was built above Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 track. It’s the star piece for the “Ferrari World” theme park that’s opened just in time for the UAE’s grand prix on November 12th.